Harlem Boys gang leader Ramel Moten gets life sentence

A Harlem Boys gang member who served as the lead gunman, supplier and distributor of illegal narcotics was sentenced to life in prison today plus 130 years, said officials with the United States Attorney's office.

Philadelphia's Ramel Moten, 29, along with six other gang members, had been convicted on Dec. 6, 2012. Officials said Moten provided firearms to other gang members for robberies. Members committed crimes such as attempted murder in aid of racketeering, robbery, carjacking, assault, threats, firearms offenses, drug crimes, conspiracy and more. The Harlem Boys gang operated in the Bartram Village Housing Development in Southwest Philadelphia.

"The sentence imposed today sends a very clear message to gang members in our city that if you engage in violent behavior you will be investigated, prosecuted and put behind bars for a very long time," said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Sam Rabadi in a statement. "ATF has a zero-tolerance policy towards career criminals who continually inflict senseless acts of violence in our neighborhoods. Communities, like Bartram Village, can have an improved quality of life when violent predators are removed from our streets.”

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel also ordered Moten to pay a $5,000 fine and a $3,100 special assessment, as well as 10 years of supervised release.